Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-12-02
The Approaching Session of Congress.

The Fiftieth Congress convenes for its
first session next Monday. The Senate. il
all the newly-elected senator's are sworn
in, will number 80 Republicans, including
Mr.. Riddleherger in that list, and 81 Dem
ocrats, 1t is not probable, however. that
all the new senators will be at once sworn
in, as the seats of three are contested. Mr.
Faulkner and Mr.. Lucas contest the honor
Of representing West Virginia the former
was chosen by the legislature under circum-
stances-it is claimed-of serious informal
ity, and the latter holds the appointment Of
the governor. Both are Democrats. and
the contest is personal, not political. in
character. Against Mr.. Hearst's claim to
a seat as senator from California, there are
charges Of bribery; and there will be-
probably, very lively contest before Mr.
Turpie of Indiana, who was chosen by a
fraudulent and improperly organized legis-
lAture, is allowed to hold his seat. These
are Democratic senators-elect, and if their
titles are successfully impeached. the Re
publican margin in the Senate will be in
creased The House contains 1853 Demo
Gratis and 1873 Republicans, with four mem
beers elected and classed as independents
three OF whom are Of Republican antece-
dents There are several contested seats in
the House, the most important contest be
ing that Of Mr. Smalls in South Carolina
These contests, however, will probably not
delay or affect the orga nization Of the
House.
Absolutely no business will be done. be-
yond preiiminaries, says the Boston journal
in discussing the prospects of the coming
session, in the short interval before the hol-
iday recess. The committees are announc-
ed, usually, just before the holiday adjourn
ment, and members who find themselves
satisfactorily placed enjoy the holidays, it
is safe TO assume, with a keener zest than
those 70 whom Fate, in the person of Mr.
Carlisle, has been less kind. To all practi-
cal purposes, therefore, it may be said that
the session does not open until the first
week in January, for not until then do the
various committees meet TO consider the
propositions which have been referred To
them. 1t is one of the peculiarities of our
system OF government that propositions for
legislation-no matter what the temper of
the House toward them may be-can be
brought before that body, as a rule. only as
they are reported from committees. A
committee can stife any measure which il
does not like; and there is a good deal of
Aptness and truth in the remark of Mr.
Wilson, that our form Of government can
not be better described, in a single phrase
than by calling it "a government bv the
chairmen Of the standing committees of
Congress. As the Speaker appoints the
committees, he can and does So constitute
them with view to insuring their support
OF certain measures, the net result being.
that, 10 a large extent, the question what
shall be done or go undone in legislation
depends ultimately upon the will of one
mantle speaker,
The most important subject which will
come before Congress-that Of the tariff
and the revenue-will undoubtedly occupy
weeks Of debate If it is approached by
Mr.. Carlisle and by the committee on WAYS
and means whom he may appoint in the
same temper as last year, little or nothing
that is practical will come from the debate.
There is apparent, however, in certain in
huential quarters, mellowing Of sentiment
upon this question which undoubtedly
points 10 strenuous efforts for compro-
mise, involving concessions on the part of
the free TRADERS which would not have been